What is the yield response of a soybean crop to a fungicide application? (wait for it…) It depends. If you’re not content with that answer, don’t worry — neither are researchers. While there are several factors that work in to the decision to spray, questions surrounding the efficacy and the response of that application can… Read More
Category: Soybean Disease, Weeds & Insects
Each disease threat is unique. Some pathogens are carried on wind or insects, others live in the soil and some reside on crop residue. The expected pressure of a disease for next year is largely dependent on how a disease is spread — those that winter in the soil or on residue are the most… Read More
Do you know the soybean cyst nematode levels in fields on your farm? If you’re growing or plan on growing soybeans, you should be testing every field to determine the presence of this pest. After all, it’s the number one pest of soybean in the world. Horst Bohner, soybean specialist with the Ontario Ministry of… Read More
More replications of research trials equals more bankable results. This can mean more reps in a field, or more reps across an entire geographic area. The North Central Soybean Research program spans a huge area of the United States, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food hosts co-operative research trials with the group as… Read More
Planting in to cool and especially cool and wet soils is not ideal for soybeans. But that description applies to most planting conditions in Ontario and perhaps most of Canada. Because of this reality, fungicide seed treatments are an invaluable tool in the establishment of healthy, vigorous, soybean stands. Albert Tenuta, provincial field crop pathologist… Read More
Ah, Canada fleabane. This nasty weed isn’t just an issue because of confirmed glyphosate resistance — its very nature of germinating whenever the heck it feels like it means that it’s one weed that can’t be well controlled by just one or even a few control methods. Canada fleabane control and resistance management requires a… Read More
If you’re relatively new to growing soybeans, you’re likely checking on the crop more often than others. That’s good, of course, as scouting is rarely a waste of time. What you may be seeing at this time of year is leaf damage — insect feeding on leaf margins or in a “shot” hole pattern. What’s… Read More
There are few things more troubling to a farmer than a sickly looking or well-chewed plant. Environmental stress is unavoidable, but determining the correct stress is important if you’re looking to either a) remedy the situation or b) avoid it in the future. Manitoba soybean farmers enjoy relatively few disease and insect pressures, so far,… Read More
Disease control timing in soybeans is coming up quickly, and wet conditions in many parts of Ontario could mean high pressure in some areas. Optimal fungicide timing is crucial for best and cost-effective control, and with that in mind some farmers may be interested in tank-mixing products in with fungicides to save a pass over… Read More
Having trouble deciding whether or not to spray for soybean aphids? Well, you’re in luck: there’s an app for that! In this episode of Soybean School, Tracey Baute, emtomologist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, introduces The Aphid Advisor App, which uses pest and beneficial insect data collected by the user, in addition… Read More